HUDSON, Frank. This Author, after many years’ work for Dublin periodicals, went to London early in the ’eighties. He wrote a few Irish sporting novels of a light and humorous kind.
⸺ THE ORIGIN OF PLUM PUDDING, and other Irish Fairy Tales. Illustr. by Gordon Browne. 1888.
Only one of these five stories is genuinely Irish—“Shaun Murray’s Challenge,” the scene of which is Dalkey. The title-story tells how a drunken man one evening threw his sack of groceries into a pot on the fire, and in the morning found a plum-pudding.
⸺ THE LAST HURDLE: a Story of Sporting and Courting. Pp. 304. (Ward & Downey). 1888.
Life in an Irish county family of the old stock, with sympathy for the poor around them. Good idea of refined Irish country life and its easy-going ways. A story full of sport, gaiety, and dramatic incidents, turning mainly on the winning of the heroine by the hero in spite of the plots of the rival. Good and bad landlords are contrasted. An eviction scene is described, with full sympathy for the victims. Shamus-the-Trout, a poacher, is a very picturesque figure.
⸺ RUNNING DOUBLE: a Story of Stage and Stable. Two Vols. (Ward & Downey). 1890.
Scene: varies between England, Dublin, and “Ennisbeg.” There are remarks on Irish life, scenery, and customs, but the chief interest is sporting—fishing, racing, betting. The stage part is in England. There is very little plot. All ends in a double wedding.
HUGHES, Mrs. Kate Duval.
⸺ THE FAIR MAID OF CONNAUGHT: and other Tales for Catholic Youth. Pp. 178. (N.Y.: Kenedy and Benziger). 1.25, 0.60, 0.30. 1889.
HULL, Eleanor. Born in Ireland of a Co. Down family. Daughter of Prof. Edward Hull, the eminent geologist, long Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland. Ed. at Alexandra Coll., Dublin, and in Brussels. Has written much—chiefly on Irish literature, folk-lore, and history—for various periodicals. Is the Author of eight important books on Irish subjects:—Pagan Ireland, Early Christian Ireland, A Text-Book of Irish [Gaelic] Literature, The Poem-Book of the Gael. Has for many years studied Old Irish under the best professors, and it is her chief pleasure and interest. Founded in 1899 the Irish Texts Society, and has been its Hon. Secretary ever since. Is President of Irish Literary Society in London.